Jullundur

Jalandhar
Jalandhar Location of Jalandhar in Punjab and India
Coordinates	31°19′32″N 75°34′45″E / 31.3256°N 75.5792°E / 31.3256; 75.5792
Country	India
State	Punjab
District(s)	Jalandhar
Commissioner
Population	709,255[1] (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 228 m (748 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 144 001 • Telephone • +0181 • Vehicle • PB 08

Jalandhar (Punjabi: ਜਲੰਧਰ, Hindi: जलंधर (help·info)), is a city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. In Hindu mythology, Jalandhara was the eponymous kingdom of a devil in Satyuga. It was also known as Prasthala at the time of Mahabharta and it was also known as Jullundur in British times.

History

Lush greenery after a shower

BMC Chowk

Jalandhar along with Multan is the oldest surviving city of the Trigarta Empire (Punjab region) of Katoch Rulers, with reference in history as far back as A.D. 100.^[2] The Jalandhar Doab (the region surrounding the city between Beas and Sutlej rivers) also marked the eastern most territory of the empire of Alexander the Great. He erected giant altars in this area to mark the eastern most extent of his empire and also founded a city named Alexandria in the vicinity and left many Macedonian veterans there.

In the 7th Century, when the famous Chinese traveller and pilgrim Hiuen Tsang visited India during the reign of Harsha Vardhana, the Kingdom of Jalandhara or Trigartta was under the rule of Raja Utito (whom Alexender Cunningham identifies with the Rajput Raja Attar Chand of the Katoch dynasty). The kingdom was said to have extended 167 miles (269 km) from east to west and 133 miles (214 km) from north to south, thus including the hill states of Chamba, Mandi and Suket (Himachal Pradesh) and Satadru or Sirhind in the plains. The city proper of Jalandhar was, when visited by Hiuen Tsiang, a large city, miles in circuit, and functioned as the capital of a Rajput kingdom.^[3] Raja Utito was a tributary of Harsh Vardhana. The Rajput Rajas appear to have continued to rule over the country right up to the 12th century, with occasional interruptions, but their capital was Jalandhar and Kangra formed an important stronghold.

According to the Chinese pilgrim Fa Hien, who traveled India between 399 and 411 C.E., there were a great many Viharas of Buddhism in India. In the Jalandhar Doab, there were as many as 50 Viharas of Buddhism. The Buddhist religion was adopted by a large number of people. As per some historians and scholars the fourth Buddhist Council out of total six Buddhist Councils took place in Jalandhar in the first century AD during the reign of King Kanishka. The fourth council of Mahayana Buddhism took place here, and placed Buddha as a God at the council^[4].

Jalandhar became the seat of Nath movement from 8th to 10th century AD, one of its greatest saint was Jalandhar Nath, whose samadhi later became the site of the existing shrine of Imam Nasir-ud-din Chishti in the fifteenth century^[5]. From the later half of the tenth century up to AD 1019, the district was included in the Shahi Kingdom of the Punjab and Jalandhar was an important city in the region. In about 1188 it fell to the control of Ibrahim Shah of Ghor.^[2] Under the Mughals Jalandhar was the capital of a sarkar.^[3]

In 1758 Maharaja Ghamand Chand of the Katoch dynasty was made the (first ever Rajput) Nizam of Jalandhar by the Durranis. Many Rajputs lived in and around the surrounding areas of Jalandhar before the partition in 1947. With the partition of the country, many like the Rawal Rajputs went to settle in the Pakistan side of the Punjab, whilst some went to other countries.

Jalandhar was burnt by the Sikhs in 1757^{[citation needed]} and captured by the Faizullahpuria confederacy in 1766. Ranjit Singh annexed it in 1811, and in 1846 Jalandhar became the headquarters of the territory acquired by the British after the first First Anglo-Sikh Wars.^[3]

During British rule Jalandhar became the headquarters, of the Division and District of the same name. According to the 1901 census, the population of the town was 67,535 of whom 14,715 were Hindus, 40,081 Muslim, 901 Sikhs, and 1,543 Christians.^[3]

In 1947 with the independence and partition of India the Muslim population left for Pakistan while Hindus and Sikhs arrived from the other direction.^[6]

Geography

Climate

The city has a humid subtropical climate with cool winters and hot summers. Summers last from April To June and winters from November to February. Temperatures in summer vary from average highs of around 48 degrees Celsius to average lows of around 25 degrees Celsius. Winter temperatures vary from highs of 19 degrees Celsius to lows of -5 degrees Celsius. The climate is on the whole dry except during the brief south-west monsoon season during July-August. The average annual rainfall is about 70 cm.

Economy

People take an active part in every event of the city

Jalandhar Bus Stand

Jalandhar is the world's biggest manufacturer of leather tool pouches and aprons with major American and European customers buying from factories in Jalandhar.

Jalandhar was a hub of the Gandhi government's green revolution of India in early 60s. Dr. Dilbag Singh Athwal, world renowned scientist in plant breeding, developed India's first high yield wheat KALYAN. The wheat he name afer his native village Kalyanpur 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest of city of Jalandhar. Later Dr. Athwal headed International Rice Research Institute, International Agricultural Development Service etc. Dr. Athwal took early retirement from his position as senior vice president Rockefeller Institute. The village Kalyanpur (now part of Jalandhar city) have produced prominent scientist including Dr. Raghbir Singh, Dr. Rajbir Kaur, Dr. Iqbal Singh Athwal.

Jalandhar is also quite known for its electrical goods industry. Manufacturers like Standard Switchgears and Apex Electricals, located in Jalandhar. International sports market is situated in Jalandhar.

Demographics

The first language of most people in the city is Punjabi. The world Punjabi meet in 2007 was held in Jalandhar, and attendees noted the Punjabi language was losing its viability^[7]. However, many in the Punjab exhibit linguistic pride, and some scholars have opined that Punjabi may actually be gaining popularity as an indigenous medium of decolonization^[8]. Since English is taught in Jalandhar schools from the first grade, it has been gaining in popularity in the city as well, and there has been an explosion in English language education in the state^[9].

According to the 1991 census, the predominant religions of Jalandhar city are Hinduism (54.54%) and Sikhism (45.46%).Other religions make up around 2.17% of the population.

Media

The city is the media hub of the region having the regional headquarters of Newspapers, National Television and Radio stations.

Main Newspapers

• Rozana Ajit (Daily Ajit)
• Doaba Headlines
• Akali Patrika
• Amar Ujala
• Dainik Jagran
• Dainik Bhaskar
• Punjab Kesri

Educational Institutions

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (erstwhile Regional Engineering College) is the eighteenth NIT of the country. Government run, it has been conferred the title of being an Institute of National Importance. It was launched in 1987.^[10]

DAVIET Jalandhar

DAV Institute of Engineering & Technology (DAVIET) Jalandhar has been in operation since 2001.^[11] It is distinguished as the largest educational organization in the country that is not government-run.^[11] The institute offers B. Tech program in six disciplines of Engineering namely Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Civil Engineering along with research programs leading to M.Tech. The Institute has recently started MBA program.

Lyallpur Khalsa College

Lyallpur Khalsa College

Lyallpur Khalsa College—a college of Arts, Science and Commerce—was originally located in Lyallpur, Pakistan, before settling in Jalandhar in 1948.

Dayanand Model Senior Secondary School

The biggest school of the city.

Jalandhar Cantonment

Vajra Go Karting which is open to civilians also, is a big attraction

Cantonment also called Cantt is dotted with buildings dating back to British era

The community gets together at markets, amusement parks, etc., especially on weekends

Construction on Jalandhar Cantonment began in 1848. It is notable not only for its age, as it among the oldest cantonments in the country, but also for its proximity to Pakistan. It figured in the 1920 Connaught Rangers mutiny when Irish soldiers replaced the Union Flag with the Irish Republic's flag.^[12]

Famous people

• Mohinder Singh KayPee, member of parliament, residing in jalandhar
• Sardul Singh Randhawa, kabaddi coach, residence in jalandhar
• Gaurav Walia, member NASA, Marine Engineer (www.stena.com), member High IQ society (www.highiqsociety.org), ICC (www.tolani.edu)
• IC Goloknath fought the fundamental right for land against the government in 1970 in a landmark watershed case which reached the supreme court.
• Grand Ayatollah Bashir Najafi al-Jalandhari. One of the few grand ayatollahs of the Iraqi Shias, who might replace Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, should he pass away, as the leader of the Shiite world and the dean of the learning center of Najaf.
• Diwan Bhai Abdul Hamid, Revenue and Chief Minister of Kapurthala State. b Jullandhar d. Lahore. Basti Danishmandan Jullandhar.
• Mohsin Malik, Sales Officer 5 Rivers G,T Dubai son in law of Tandon family from Pakistan Punjab Lahore.
• Zia Jalandhari, Former MD of PTV during Zia's regime and a famous Urdu poet.
• Hakeem Syed Muhammad Alauddin, Famous Hakeem in Karachi (died 1997).
• Hafeez Jullundhri, Poet, who wrote the current National Anthem of Pakistan
• Muhammad Yaqoob, Ex deputy Director State Bank of Pakistan , born in Jalandhar, died on 18 February 2009.
• Lawrence Durrell, writer, born in Jalandhar, on 27 February 1912.
• Kundan Lal Saigal Bollywood actor and singer.
• Mistry Mohammed Hussain, one of them who start sewing machine work in India, teacher of K.L. Saigal
• Baba Kashmira Singh, Famous for their Charity Services.
• Jagjit Singh, famous Indian Ghazal singer studied in DAV College Jalandhar, where his room is still preserved.
• Dalip Singh Rana (The Great Khali), Indian professional wrestler with World Wrestling Entertainment
• Krishan Dev Bhandari Sh. K.D Bhandari won the eletion from Sh.Avtar Henry in the Year 2007 Jullundur North 30
• Avtar henry, ex cabinet minister punjab 2002 -2007
• Yash Chopra, Bollywood director and writer
• Paul Nischal, former N.R.I President, first Indian candidate for the British Political Conservative Party
• Hans Raj Hans, famous Punjabi singer
• Swaraj Paul, first Indian to be given title of Lord by British Government
• Remi Kaler, also known as Remi Clair, Canadian actor.
• Balbir Singh, Sr., Olympian, hockey player
• Iftikhar Ahmed, Famous Indian actor.
• Imtiaz Ahmed, PTV actor (uncle Urfi fame), brother of Iftikhar Ahmed, an Indian actor.
• Ajitpal Singh, Olympian, Hockey player.
• Surjit Singh, Olympian, Hockey player.
• Pargat Singh, Olympian, Hockey player.
• Dharam Singh Uppal, International Athlete, Supritendent of Police.
• I.K. Gujral former Prime Minister of India
• Sunil Dutt, famous Bollywood Actor
• P. Paul Verma, Director, Producer and Writer of Punjabi & Hindi movies.
• Ch. Abdul Hameed Khan, Rehabilitation Commissioner of East and West Pakistan, settled in Lahore Model Town with his wife and sons,Ch.Abdul waheed and Ch. Moin-ud-din Ahmed
• General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, 6th President of Pakistan & Chief of the Pakistan Army
• Harbhajan Singh, Member of Indian National Cricket team
• Wasim Sajjad, two-time Acting President of Pakistan, Ex Chairman of Senate
• Shaikh Anwar-ul-Haq, Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court
• Mian Mohammed Sharif, Surveyor General of Pakistan. After the Partition he migrated to Pakistan
• Lala Amarnath, famous Indian cricketer
• Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, 4th Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Swami Shraddhanand, Indian educationist and Arya Samaj missionary
• Wazir Ali, prominent figure in early Indian cricket
• R Paul Dhillon, Indo-Canadian journalist
• Ujjal Dosanjh, Indo-Canadian lawyer and politician
• Sukhbir, Bhangra singer
• Abhishek Saini, AIIMSonian
• Arun Shourie, Indian journalist, author and politician
• Sheikh Anwarul Haq, 9th Chief Justice of Pakistan
• Agha Sadiq, Pakistani writer and poet
• Steven Kapur, APACHE INDIAN, Reggae Singer
• Nitin Gupta, Radio Presenter, All India Radio jalandhar.
• Vijay Singh, writer and film-maker, famous for his movies 'Jaya Ganga' and 'One Dollar Curry'.

Villages around Jalandhar

Talhan, Salempur Masanda, Parasrampur, Randhawa, Sofi Pind, Mithapur, Wadala, Suchi Pind.

References

External links

• Unearthing The happening Jalandhar
• Govt. Website on Jalandhar
• Jalandhar Buzz! Site About Jalandhar Business Directory
• Public blog on Jalandhar
• Site About Jalandhar Jalandhari.com
• Website about the Jalandhari presence in the UK, Centre for Applied South Asian Studies (CASAS)